Outrage, as you know, is the crystal meth of conservatism. So what are the wingers outraged about now? Well, this, for one thing (seen at LauraIngraham.com and Free Republic):
OK, two things.
First of all, as Garry Wills pointed out years ago, it's not even appropriate for presidents to salute the troops, even though they now do it routinely:
We are reminded, for instance, of the expanded commander in chief status every time a modern president gets off the White House helicopter and returns the salute of marines.Second of all, on June 26, 2001, I don't recall this photo engendering any right-wing outrage:
That is an innovation that was begun by Ronald Reagan. Dwight Eisenhower, a real general, knew that the salute is for the uniform, and as president he was not wearing one. An exchange of salutes was out of order.
I think that sets the "respect for the troops" bar about as low as it can go.
2 comments:
But you don't really think God himself wrote that rule about salutes, do you?
And Eisenhower was an academy-educated professional soldier.
Of course it appealed to his military vanity to allow no exceptions to the soldiers-salute-each-other rule.
Reagan started the salute based on HIS military service.
In movies made during WWII, the actors ALWAYS saluted everyone, and now, after all those movies, shorts, and TV shows, he was playing the greatest role of his life - President! And wouldn't a great President salute back?
Now, imagine the shrieking, tearing at the toupee's and hair extensions, and rending of the polyester, if President Obama DIDN'T salute back?
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